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Happy Bastille Day! Here are 8 reasons why you should teach your children to speak Français

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La Liberté guidant le peupl bastille

Known to the French as "La Fête Nationale," and by the Anglicized term "Bastille Day," Tuesday marks France's independence and the 226th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, a medieval fortress.

In honor of Bastille Day, here are some reasons you should étudier.

1. For English speakers, French is the easiest language to learn

You may have heard it's Spanish. That cannot possibly be true, though, because English is actually the mutant stepchild of German and French, and it got most of its genes from its Gallic side. For several centuries in fact, French was the official language of the English court.

The list of English words with French roots is basically infinite.

2. And besides, learning French makes learning Spanish way easier

sarkozy carla bruniWe again assume America's natural inclination is to learn Spanish.

Because French and Spanish are the mutant stepchildren of Latin, you can practically cut out a step if you ever decide to take up Spanish. And if you already know Spanish, it requires very little effort to make the jump to French.

Don't fancy Spanish? Well, then French is a solid base for learning the rest of the Romance languages, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian.

3. All over Europe the world, French is still the main 2nd language

French is the only language (besides English), that is taught in every nation in the world. More than 200 million people speak French, making it the ninth most widely spoken language in the world.

And of course the EU's power cities, Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg, parlent Français.

French is also an official language of NATO, Unesco, the International Olympic Committee, the UN, the Red Cross, and international courts.

What's more, half of Africa's fastest-growing countries also speak French.

China gets this, and it continues to pump huge investments into the resource-rich region. We can thus expect Africa to be an increasing focus of global trade and international relations.

Simply put, la Francophonie, "the sphere of French language" is all of this:

francophonie

4. Also, which country is the world's most popular destination?eiffel tower paris france

You guessed it, France.

Paris, Nice, Marseille, Cannes, Bordeaux, Monaco, and Versailles are a few obvious reasons nearly 85 million travelers make France the world's most popular travel destination.

And if you're not interested in touring any part of France, well then there is Canada, Switzerland, Monaco, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Caribbean, and a significant amount of Africa.

5. If you want to understand modern China and Russia, you need to know French

For all the good stuff it led to, the French Revolution gave the world its first glimpse at totalitarianism. The Russian Revolution of 1917 was basically an attempt to reenact that part of the French Revolution.

And Mao's Communist revolution in China was basically an attempt to reenact the Russian Revolution. This is why Alexis de Tocqueville's book on the French Revolution recently became a best-seller.

Sure, you can get it in English. But translations suck — and who is going to do the translations in the first place if we run out of French speakers?

6. You can't study literature, theater, music, math, science, history, fashion, architecture, or gastronomy without coming across French

arc de TriompheHeard of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables? What about the philosophical works of say Voltaire, Sartre, Descartes, Camus, or Pascal? Indeed, French is the language of the some of the world's greatest literary masterpieces, and France has won more Nobel prizes for literature than any other country.

Prefer movies? France hosts the annual Cannes International Film Festival, arguably the second-most-prestigious cinematography festival in the world.

C'est la vie.

7. It's a marketable language for jobs

If you're reading this, we probably don't need to spell out all the socioeconomic benefits that come with learning a second language.

But the ability to communicate in French opens the door to the world's fifth-biggest economy and third-biggest destination for foreign investment.

8. French politics is the greatest show

Hollande

You may have heard French President Francois Hollande was recently caught leaving his attractive actress mistress' house wearing a ridiculous motorcycle helmet.

In the US, this would have resulted in scandal. In France, this resulted in a resurgence in Hollande's popularity.

Bien sûr, Rob Wile contributed to this report.

SEE ALSO: 6 reasons everyone should learn Spanish

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NOW WATCH: This animated map shows how European languages evolved











The one reason Zara is dominating the fashion industry right now

This Uber driver got a free VIP ticket to Taylor Swift thanks to three of his passengers

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taylor swift uber driverWhen Uber driver Khalil Calixte picked up three teens to drive them to Taylor Swift's recent concert at MetLife stadium, he had no idea he'd be joining them in VIP. 

But that's exactly what happened when they decided to give him their spare ticket.

"We had a great time," Calixte told Business Insider. "I felt like I knew them for a long time and we created a bond, and it was really fun."

It started on Saturday evening, when Jenna McNicholas, Maggie Fair, and Jamie Tanzer arrived at Grand Central Terminal. (Full disclosure: the author of this post attended high school with all three.)

They were supposed to be a group of four, but their friend had backed out at the last minute, so they had an extra ticket, worth at least $201, that they weren't sure what to do with.

From Grand Central, they called an Uber, which Calixte was driving. He offered them the auxiliary cord so they could play their own music.

Of course, the girls played Taylor Swift.

When Calixte started singing along, they decided to give him their extra ticket. 

"We were all looking at each other, we were like, wait, he needs to come to the concert with us," McNicholas told Business Insider. 

Calixte thought they might be pulling his leg, he said, but he quickly accepted. He had never been to a concert before, and decided taking the rest of the night off from driving would be worth it.

Plus, there was the added bonus of a larger fare. Instead of being dropped off at Penn Station, where the girls would take another train to the concert, it now made more sense for them to pay Calixte to drive them all the way to MetLife. Luckily, Fair's tickets came with complimentary parking.

Taylor Swift Uber Driver Concert

Calixte, McNicholas, Fair, and Tanzer bonded quickly. Before they knew it, they were laughing and joking together on the main floor, just a few rows away from Swift.

"It was like we were already friends. We danced and sang the whole night, it was so much fun," Fair said. 

This isn't the first incredible experience Calixte has had thanks to his Uber passengers, believe it or not.

During a recent New York Fashion Week, Calixte picked up actress Kerry Washington's landlord. He invited the driver to a dinner with Washington and chef Emeril Lagasse.

"Everybody thought I was a model, but I was the Uber driver," Calixte laughed.

What's his secret to connecting with his passengers and receiving these invitations?

"Well, I have a smile, I channel good positive energy, and I only get great people in my car," he said.

SEE ALSO: I'm not your average Taylor Swift fan, but now I understand why millions of people are obsessed with her

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NOW WATCH: Watch That Dash Cam Video Tribute Of A Police Officer Singing Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off'










A nutritionist explains how to eat healthfully without spending a lot of money

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farmers market

It's impossible to stay healthy if you're on a budget, right?

It can seem that way whenever we shop at Whole Foods or pick up a carton of $5 berries.

However, eating healthfully on a shoestring budget is possible, according to the experts.

Although buying affordable, nutritious foods is a good start, there's more to it than filling your cart with certain ingredients, says Rania Batayneh, MPH, nutritionist and author of "The One One One Diet."

Here are her top five tips for eating healthy without breaking the bank:

1. Order online. You can typically get better costs online (try Amazon) than at traditional retailers, and many food items are eligible for free shipping if your Amazon order exceeds $35 (look for "eligible for FREE Shipping" next to the price). Not to mention, ordering online will save you a few trips to the grocery store.

Just steer clear of putting tempting snacks and sweets in your virtual cart.

2. Buy in bulk. "Warehouse shopping can be a bit overwhelming," admits Batayneh, "But there are advantages to buying in bulk." You won't have to make as many shopping trips, and you're sure to save a bunch of money in the long run.

This is a great option when you're purchasing healthy snacks, such as nuts and energy bars, or other ingredients that don't have a short shelf life, like dried beans, lentils, and oats.

Batayneh's go-to is Costco: "I always pick up the two ounce singles of Sabra hummus. It's a 16-count box, and the singles are great for the on-the-go lifestyle paired with vegetables." Other places to buy in bulk are BJ's, Sam's Club, or Amazon.

3. Don't shop on an empty stomach. "Shopping when you're hungry can lead to bad decisions, as your cravings for processed, packaged foods are difficult to control," explains Batayneh. This could also make you more prone to overspending on wants rather than needs. She suggests eating a healthy snack before picking up groceries.

Trader Joe's 24. Eat seasonally. "Seasonal fruits and vegetables are cheaper, but they also taste way better," Batayneh tells us. "That's a benefit for both your wallet and your waistline, as their peak freshness adds flavor to your recipes so that you don't have to rely on extra salt, fat, or sugar."

Consult this handy graphic to determine what's currently in season.

5. Subscribe to cooking websites or your favorite company's newsletter. This takes less than five minutes and can help you save, as they'll alert you of sales, discounts, or free shipping deals. Another perk: "Some also have great recipes that you can start to make at home," says Batayneh.

Batayneh likes MarthaStewart.com, and also recommends looking at Pinterest to find recipes (use #foodporn).

SEE ALSO: My body is the most expensive thing I own

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NOW WATCH: This animated map shows how religion spread across the world










APPLY NOW: Business Insider is hiring a paid intern to write about innovation

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Metropol Parasol
Are you curious to know why some cities flourish and others falter? Do you believe that good design can change the world? 
 
Business Insider is hiring a paid editorial intern to cover the world of innovation and design. It will be your job to find the most interesting angles on what's happening in the worlds of architecture, design for the developing world, product design, urban design, and everything in between.
 
Interns at Business Insider aren't sent on coffee runs, or forced to spend their days filing or making copies.

Our interns are an integral part of our team. Many of our current writers and editors started as interns. 

BI Interns spend their time doing meaningful work: researching, writing, pitching, and producing features — even breaking news if the timing's right. We want people who can find their own stories, pitch them, and write quickly, cleanly, and intelligently. We will have you producing as much as you possibly can in no time.

Our style is smart, conversational, exciting and geared toward a general audience.

This position is based out of Business Insider's San Francisco office. Internships run for 6 months, and interns are encouraged to work up to 40 hours a week.

The ideal candidate will have:
 
-- Experience writing for a news outlet or a degree in journalism or related concentration.
 
-- An interest in the design trends that will shape how we live and work in the future.
 
-- An understanding of how to write about design for a broad audience.
 
Apply here if interested.Please include your resume and a cover letter telling us what excites you about innovation and design.
 

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McDonald's is selling a $14 value meal with lobster

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The McLobster

McDonald's is selling a lobster roll in several regions, including New England and Canada. 

The McLobster costs about $8.99. The meal deal, which includes fries and a fountain drink, costs $13.99, notes Candice Choi at the Associated Press.

The menu item shows that McDonald's is trying to offer more premium options to better compete with fast-casual options like Chick-fil-A, Shake Shack, and Chipotle.

Reviews of the McLobster have been largely negative. 

"The limp bun holds a bizarrely large amount of lettuce, both shredded and whole-leaf, neither of which is anything more than filler. There's plenty of mayo, liberally mashed in with globs of shredded lobster meat in some awful sort of seafood salad," writes Adam Callagan at Eater.

Callagan also says that the sandwich doesn't taste like lobster. 

mclobster

"It's crowned by a lobster claw, which, when eaten individually, has the faint taste of lobster, but none of the succulence of the best of its kind," he writes. " If you didn't see what you were eating, I don't think you'd guess, and I doubt you'd continue."

Lobster prices have been falling, leading to many restaurants featuring the delicacy on the menu. 

SEE ALSO: 17 shopping secrets to save time and money at Trader Joe's

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NOW WATCH: 8 fast food hacks that will change the way you order










Take a look inside the famous 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' townhouse, which just sold for $7.4 million

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breakfast at tiffany's townhouse

The beautiful Upper East Side townhouse that served as the facade for Holly Golightly's apartment building in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" has just been sold for $7.4 million, the New York Observer reports.

The townhouse last changed hands in 2012, when Peter E. Bacanovic, the former Merrill Lynch broker who spent five months in prison for his role in the Martha Stewart insider trading scandal, sold it to a Cyprus-based LLC for around $6 million.

The new owner's identity is also shielded by an LLC. The home, which is configured for two families, was initially listed for $10 million last year, according to the Observer.

SEE ALSO: 40 restaurants you should try in your lifetime

Does this townhouse building look familiar?



It played a starring role in "Breakfast at Tiffany's," as the home of Holly Golightly.



The building is currently divided into two separate duplexes, with 10 rooms altogether.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider








50 groundbreaking scientists who are changing the way we see the world

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bertolt meyer bionic manScientists who ask the right questions at the right time can make history and change the world.

We compiled a list of 50 scientists from across the globe who are doing just that — changing the world for the better.

These scientists' revolutionary research in human happiness, evolutionary biology, neutrino physics, biotechnology, archeology, and other fields is helping to advance our lives in more ways than we could ever imagine.

For the list, we selected scientists noted in the media for their recent achievements as well as scientists highlighted in the 2014 lists of Forbes Magazine's "30 Under 30," Popular Science's The Brilliant Ten, and MIT's "35 Innovators Under 30."

SEE ALSO: This woman's revolutionary idea made her a billionaire — and could change medicine

DON'T MISS: Russia's secret space shuttles have been sitting in plain sight for 22 years

Abe Davis is finding new ways to use video by using the vibrations in it to reconstruct audio.

No sound? No problem. Abe Davis and a team of researchers from MIT, Microsoft, and Adobe developed an algorithm that can extract audio from silent videos by analyzing the tiny vibrations of the objects as captured by a camera.

In one experiment, the team filmed earbuds playing a song with no discernible sound. The vibrations of the earbuds in the video was enough to recreate a song identifiable by the app Shazam. When the team tried the experiment using an everyday point-and-shoot camera, as opposed to an expensive high-speed version, the vibrations were still able to reconstruct the sound. Davis presented these findings in a paper for Siggraph, a computer-graphics conference, and gave a TED talk where he demoed the visual microphone. And there’s more to come: The latest research from Davis and fellow graduate student Katie Bouman will be out this summer.

Davis is a doctoral student at MIT.



Alan Stern is spearheading the most important space mission of 2015.

On July 14, 2015, the NASA spacecraft New Horizons flew by Pluto — closer than any other human-made instrument has ever been. Alan Stern is spearheading the mission, leading the team of scientists that made sure the spacecraft survived its nine-year journey through space

Until New Horizons reached its closest approach to Pluto, little was known about this dwarf planet and its system of five moons. Now the NASA spacecraft has collected data that Stern and his team will be analyzing over the coming months to understand the geology, composition, and atmospheric content of Pluto in significant detail, something that would never have happened without the New Horizons spacecraft.

Stern is the principal investigator for NASA's New Horizons mission.



Andrea Accomazzo was the first person to land a probe on a comet.

In August 2014, the Rosetta spacecraft began orbiting the comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko and transmitting images to Earth of the dusty space snowball that were more detailed than anything we'd ever seen.

Ultimately, Rosetta will give scientists a better idea of what comets are made of and how they work, as well as provide insights into the chemical makeup of the solar system. As the Rosetta flight director, Andrea Accomazzo helped design the mission and led the team that guided it toward 67P. Now he's working with the European Space Agency on their interplanetary missions to Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter.

Accomazzo is an ESA spacecraft-operations manager at Venus Express and the flight director of the Rosetta mission.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider









The one restaurant you need to eat at in Florence, where the steaks are as big as your face and you can drink endless wine without going broke

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il latini restaurant florence

I just came back from a nine-day vacation in Italy full of delicious meals. But of all the pasta, pizza, and prosciutto I scarfed down, one meal stands out the most.

A friend recommended I go to a restaurant in Florence called Il Latini. It's a short walk from Ponte Vecchio and the hotel where I was staying. Buried on a little side street, it'd normally be easy to miss the restaurant.

But as we approached the spot at 7 PM, a half hour before the restaurant opened, there was a crowd gathered outside.

That crowd quickly grew to 50 people. The restaurant looked small and I was confident I'd never get a chance to eat at the curious place.

But at 7:30 the doors opened and a jolly man stepped outside.

"Don't worry, and please don't push!" he said. "There is room for all of you inside to eat, even if you don't have a reservation."

We entered the restaurant and were ushered to a side room full of long cloth-covered tables. Another couple was seated at our table, where a massive bottle of red wine and homemade olive oil was waiting. 

What followed was the best Italian meal I'd have that week, and one you definitely shouldn't miss if you're headed to Florence.

The best part: the endless food and wine only costs 50 Euros per person.

Traveling in the US? Check out: The best restaurant in every state

Il Latini is just a short walk over the Ponte Veccio bridge in Florence, Italy.



It's a four generation, family-style restaurant that's been in business for over a century. The doors open at 7:30 PM and a big crowd was gathered outside when we showed up at 7:00.



At 7:30, one of the hosts came outside and assured everyone that, reservation or not, there was plenty of room inside for all of us to come feast. So we filed in. We sat with two other couples, a Polish couple visiting from England and an American couple who was celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider








I went to a marijuana dispensary in Colorado and it felt just like visiting a wine store

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Weed dispensary counter

I don't smoke marijuana, but I recently visited Colorado and decided to check out a marijuana dispensary.

Colorado's tourism industry has been skyrocketing, and many claim it's due to January 2014's legalization of the possession and sale of cannabis.

Whether that's true or not, dispensaries are estimated to have brought in $295 million in sales as well as $51 million in tax revenue in 2014. Colorado is ranked one of the fastest-growing economies in the country, and its unemployment rate has seen the biggest drop in the US.

So when I saw that Telluride, a tiny town (population 2,319) I've been visiting biannually for the last 15+ years, suddenly boasted four marijuana dispensaries (and only two pharmacies, to put it into perspective), I had to check one out for myself. My dad and brother came along for the ride.

Weed dispensary entranceWe decided to visit the Alpine Wellness dispensary, possibly for its scenic and spa-like name. It was up a flight of stairs inside one of those little shopping plazas, and in fact shared its space with a masseuse. From the outside it was barely distinguishable from a day spa or doctor's office.

A bearded man in a bright yellow shirt and red hat was perched at the front desk and enthusiastically waved us inside. Smiling broadly, he apologetically asked us for ID (even from my 60-something father).

Marijuana is legal, but, like with alcohol, you have to be 21 to purchase any. Looking our IDs over, he told us to sit tight until the salesperson finished up with other customers, so we hung around in a sort of sterile waiting room. The only thing differentiating it from a doctor's office were the psychedelic, tie-dye heavy posters on the walls.

Only a minute later the "budtender" was ready for us, beaming as she summoned us into the main room, which was lined with counters full of various cannabis strains (with names like Jabberwocky and G-Funk), pre-rolled joints, oils, creams and gels, lip balms, and homemade edibles ranging from watermelon caramels to peanut butter dipped in dark chocolate. Apparently, everything there contained "100% organic soil-grown cannabis."

Weed dispensary lineA line formed behind us as we peppered the budtender with questions. Basically, you tell her what kind of a high you're looking for, and she explains the various products until you find one that's just right.

I learned that most marijuana comes in one of two strains: Indica or Sativa. Indicas are more about a buzzy body high, and said to aid sleep and pain relief. This is the kind of high that will have you melting into your couch clutching a pint of Rocky Road, unable to form complete thoughts or finish sentences, wondering whether you said what you meant to say, or whether you said anything at all in the last 5 to 50 minutes.

Sativa-dominant strains, on the other hand, are more energizing and mentally stimulating. That's the strain that will have you animatedly discussing dinosaurs versus zombies while blasting some Berlin electro.

Finally, there are hybrid strains that mix these two in different proportions.

Weed dispensary productsAfter explaining to the budtender that we were looking for something mellow, she recommended a strain called MeltDown, which, she assured us — despite the name — would be good for a nice, light buzz. An eighth cost $40 and came packaged in a small brown paper bag. 

While definitely on the hippie side, the experience of visiting a marijuana dispensary was straightforward and pleasant — not at all sketchy as I had anticipated.

Really, it reminded me of a fancy wine shop, where customers defer to a connoisseur who knows the products well and can recommend something to each person's liking.

SEE ALSO: I biked through Tuscany and it was one of the hardest trips I’ve ever taken — but it was totally worth it

FOLLOW US:   BI Travel is on Twitter!

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NOW WATCH: This guy absolutely loses it as he bungee jumps off a tower in China's beautiful Qing Long Canyon










What Barbie would look like if she had the body of an average 19-year-old (MAT)

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Barbie

One of the strangest new children's toys on the market is Lammily, a "real-life" doll for girls launched in 2014 by artist Nickolay Lamm.

Lammily has the proportions of an actual teenage girl — and is thus shorter and stockier than Barbie, the impossibly thin top-selling doll from Mattel.

Lammily sales are doing well: "We've done $1.5 million in sales exclusively from online. We have yet to try out speciality or mass retail, so we're excited about that," Lammily told Business Insider this week.

Several years ago, Lamm became obsessed with Barbie's distorted body. His obsession began in part due to his own attempt to obtain a "perfect" body as a teenager. "Back in high school, I starved myself and exercised to exhaustion to have a set of six-pack abs. After achieving my desired BMI, I looked and felt terrible," he wrote recently on his blog

Two years ago, Lamm gave Business Insider a set of illustrations in which he tried to reshape Barbie using the proportions of an average American 19-year-old. "I feel that this is as close as you can get to a real life representation of a Barbie-proportioned woman standing next to an average sized woman," he told us.

LammilyThe average 19-year-old woman was modeled using these measurements, as described by the CDC:

  • 64.29″ height
  • 33.62″ waist
  • 14.09″ upper arm length
  • 14.45″ upper leg length
  • 20″ head circumference
  • 15″ neck circumference

Barbie, at 1/6 scale, would have the following measurements, Lamm believes:

  • 69″ height

  • 36″ bust

  • 18″ waist

  • 33″ hips
  • 
22″ head circumference
  • 
9″ neck circumference

The illustrations below show what a "Barbie" might look like if she was a normal American. (And you can see how they eventually led Lamm to create Lammily.)

SEE ALSO: 16 questions that doctors use to figure out if you're a sociopath

As Lamm maps Barbie next to an average person, the differences become obvious quickly.



Barbie is huge! She is 5 inches taller than the average young woman.



Barbie isn't just a thin woman — her waist is almost half the size of an average woman's, just 18 inches.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider








Take a flyover tour of America's wealthiest zip code, where the average home costs more than $5 million

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sagaponack flyover

What was once a sleepy farming village on the East End of Long Island is now a summer resort for the wealthy. For the second time since it was incorporated in 2005, the village has been named the wealthiest zip code in America.

From the looks of this flyover tour, it's easy to see why the median home price in the 11962 zip was $5.12 million from January 2014 to June 2015, according to Property Shark. Aerial photographer Jeff Cully of EEFAS captured the area in all its gorgeous hidden real estate glory.

SEE ALSO: Take a rare look at the mansions behind the Hamptons' famously high hedges

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

Sagaponack is located on the eastern end of Long Island, on the Atlantic Ocean.



It sits squarely between Bridgehampton and Wainscott.



Sagaponack, NY is the Hampton's youngest zip code — 11962 only incorporated in 2005.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider








The juice industry might be headed for a crash

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green juice shop

The juice industry has exploded in recent years. 

But it's possible the market has become too saturated, according to Chavie Lieber at Racked.

This year, two New York City Jamba Juice units shut their doors, according to DNAinfo.

The reason? Competition is too steep.

Smaller boutique shops are also feeling the pain of the industry's popularity, Lieber reports.

Crain's New York reported that popular juice chain Organic Avenue laid off 38 employees earlier this year.

One problem juice companies are facing is that as they expand, they might try to appeal to everyone, which becomes incredibly difficult, according to Racked.

"A lot of mistakes are being made in the juice industry right now, and Organic Avenue is a prime example," an anonymous "juice industry insider" told Racked. "It first started with them expanding too quickly, then it turned into a healthy fast-food thing, and then they became just another Pret a Manger. It's what money people don't understand: You can't dilute the brand to appeal to everyone. Hain Celestial had the same thing when it bought BluePrint—it might be selling well at Whole Foods, but it's not being bought anywhere else."

organic avenue juice

Racked reports that not everyone can open a juicery.

"Probably in the last few minutes, five people have woken up and said they want to start a juice company," Lianna Sugarman of LuliTonix said to Racked. "But this isn't just something that you can just do as a dilettante. A lot of us ent into this because of the love of the product, but you can't just be like, 'Oh, I love juice, and my yoga business isn't going that well, but I'm like, really itno spirituality.' That's not going to work! There are a limited number of people buying $11 juices."

Essentially, the demographic is simply too limited for the market to be this saturated.

The Awl drew a comparison to the frozen yogurt industry, which like green juice, were once ubiquitous throughout cities.

But in May 2014, Grub Street reported the boom was over, pointing to warning signs that seem comparable to the juice industry's woes: rents are too high, unsavory discounts, and the incredibly challenging nature of standing out amongst competitors. Ironically enough, at the time, Grub Street said frozen yogurt was being replaced by green juice.

Ultimately, the juice industry's problem is simple: "It's reached a point where there is more juice out there than people actually consuming it," Pressed Juicery's CEO, Hayden Slater, said to Racked.

SEE ALSO: Here's what happened when I drank a green smoothie instead of coffee every morning for a week

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50 Cent is still stuck with his sprawling Connecticut mansion after filing for bankruptcy

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image

Mondays are rough — especially if you're 50 Cent.

Originally reported by The Wall Street Journal, the rapper filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week, estimating between $10 million and $50 million in assets and debts.

But he still can't get rid of his his 52-bedroom mega-mansion in Farmington, Connecticut. 

He listed the property as his current residence on the bankruptcy papers, alongside his actual name, Curtis Lee Jackson.

The home is currently off the market, and we doubt Jackson plans to throw a party anytime soon, so here's your inside look at the estate he just can't shake.   

Leah Goldman contributed to an earlier version of this post. 

SEE ALSO: No one wants to live in this $14.5 million apartment in New York's most exclusive building

FOLLOW US: Business Insider is on Twitter

Back in 2003, 50 bought the 17-acre home from Mike Tyson's ex-wife Monica Turner for $4.1 million.



In 2007 he listed it for $18.5 million, dropped it to $14.5 million in 2009, then $10.5 million, and finally $10 million in 2011 before giving up.



We don't understand why nobody wants the mansion — it has a helipad.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider








An obscure salad chain backed by Shake Shack's founder is about to blow up

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Tender Greens West Hollywood interior_Photo Credit Tender Greens.JPG

The California salad chain Tender Greens is about to launch an expansion.

The chain, which bills its menu as "slow food done fast," just got a minority investment from Danny Meyer, the CEO of one of the most successful restaurant companies in New York City. The New York Times first reported the investment.

Tender Greens says it will use the investment to open more restaurants in California and beyond. The chain, founded in 2006 currently has 22 locations in California. 

The investment is notable because it's the first time that Meyer's firm, The Union Hospitality Group, has taken a stake in an outside concept.

Tender Greens UTC La Jolla exterior_Photo Credit Valerio ArchitectsMeyer will join Tender Greens' board of directors as part of the deal. The Union Square Hospitality Group has owned more than a dozen renowned restaurants including Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, and Blue Smoke.

"Every now and then, I’ll visit a restaurant and love the idea — the food, the people, the culture — so much that I wish I’d thought of it myself," Meyer, who founded Shake Shack, said in a statement. "That’s exactly what happened with Tender Greens."

Tender Greens sources the food on its menu from local farmers, ranchers, artisans, boutique wineries, breweries and coffee roasters, according to the company. 

The chain's salads include Southern fried chicken on romaine with dill dressing (pictured below) and salami with kale, roasted fennel, fingerling potatoes, crispy garbanzo beans, and Parmesan.

BigSalads_SouthernFriedChicken_Photo Credit An Hoang.JPG Tender Greens

"From the grill" meat options — including Chipotle Barbecue Chicken, Backyard Marinated Steak, and Herb Brushed Albacore Tuna — can be served on a platter with sides, on a sandwich, or on a salad.

Here's the salami and kale salad:

BigSalads_SalamiKale_Photo Credit An Hoang.JPG Tender GreensHere's the same salad, but served on a sandwich: 

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Most of the entrees at Tender Greens cost $11.50. 

The chain was named one of the “10 Best Chain Restaurants in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler last year. It was also named in 2014 as one of America's most promising companies by Forbes.

"We waited to find the right partner who shares our same philosophy about building a company that we would want to work for and that everyone would love," Tender Greens co-founder David Dressler said in a statement.

With the new investment — the terms of which have not been disclosed — "we begin our next chapter with a strategic partner who has a collection of the finest restaurants in New York with 26 James Beard Awards to their credit, the creator of the better burger phenom Shake Shack, and their founder (and our hero) Danny Meyer on our board of directors," Dressler said. "Not to mention access to growth and development resources we have always wanted, and a network of other special brands to collaborate with and learn from."

TG_Market Fish Big Salad_Photo Credit Tender GreensSome of the dishes are more creative, like these Cajun shrimp and corn quinoa waffles with cilantro, caramelized red onions and Pecorino cheese. 

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At its West Hollywood location, the chain has tomato plants growing near the outdoor dining area.

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The interior of the restaurants is rustic and modern with wooden tables and chairs. 

There is no table service. Customers line up to order their food, like at Chipotle. 

Tender Greens Pasadena interior_Photo Credit Tender GreensSome Tender Greens locations, including the one in San Diego, have started serving breakfast.

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Many of the restaurants are run by chefs with backgrounds in fine dining,

The West Hollywood store, for example, is run by executive chef Ali Ohta, who trained with Gordon Ramsay and worked at restaurants like Nobu and the Westside Tavern in Los Angeles before coming to Tender Greens, according to the Times.

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Pastas, burgers, and tacos are available at some locations.

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The restaurants also have an array of pastries and desserts, like this blackberry pop tart.

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SEE ALSO: We tried Shake Shack's new chicken sandwich — here's the verdict

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32 mouthwatering foods everyone should try in France

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Steak Tartare

France is known for many things — its beautiful language, charming towns, and gorgeous beaches. 

While these are all true, the country's cuisine is not to be forgotten.

Whether it's a simple croissant or a classic dish like escargot, French food always has a gourmet feel to it.

We've pulled together 32 foods that everyone should try throughout France.

SEE ALSO: 40 incredible restaurants you should eat at in your lifetime

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A fresh baguette is possibly the most iconic French food. The bread is just as delicious by itself as it is with a traditional French cheese such as gruyère or brie. If you're in Paris, try Le Grenier à Pain; the bakery won this year's Grand Prix de la Baguette (Paris's best baguette competition).

Click here for more information on Le Grenier à Pain >



Crème brûlée is a favorite French dessert. Once you crack the thin hard caramel shell and dip your spoon into the creamy custard below, there's no going back.



For classic steak frites (steak and fries), try Le Relais de l'Entrecote, which has perfected the only entree it serves: steak frites. It's a Paris institution — attracting both locals and tourists — so lines can be long.

 For more information on Le Relais de l'Entrecote, click here >



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Step inside the tiny Florida town that's known as the 'psychic capital of the world'

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Victor Vonegitz, 2008

At first glance, the tiny community of Cassadaga is nothing out of the ordinary. Nestled in in the heart of central Florida and surrounded by lakes and forest, the sleepy town may not seem like much — but there’s something quite peculiar about it.

This town is known as the "Psychic Capital of the World."

Of the village’s roughly 100 inhabitants, over half are practicing psychic mediums. 

When photographer Christiaan Lopez-Miro heard about the town, he was instantly intrigued.

I've always been fascinated with magic and illusion, as well as the intrigue of the occult,” he said. “When I found out about Cassadaga, I instantly thought of ... ghosts and all the things one would usually think of when told there is a town where all its residents are psychics, healers and mediums. Of course I wanted to explore it further.”

He initially planned to photography psychic waiting rooms, but the draw of the mysterious little town grew. On a journey through central Florida, Lopez-Miro took his cameras with him on a side trip to Cassadaga and began knocking on doors. 

What he discovered was a place both otherworldly yet completely mundane. He shared the incredible images from his project with us.

SEE ALSO: Step inside the tiny former Soviet country that doesn't technically exist

Starting was surprisingly easy. “I literally just started knocking on doors and explaining … that I was interested in photographing in their homes and eventually creating a project on the town and its residents," said Lopez-Miro. "Mostly everyone I spoke with invited me in and was very welcoming.”



The Spiritualists believe that anyone can utilize the sixth sense to reach enlightenment; a medium has natural energies that merge with spiritual energy and can be used to heal. Here, a town medium is healing a visitor.



The town was founded in 1875 by George Colby, a famed medium who traveled the country holding seances.



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Jean-Claude Van Damme just listed his Marina del Rey home for $9.99 million

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front

Now's your chance to pretend you're Jean-Claude Van Damme and live in his house.

The Expendables 2 star and Belgium-born actor, director, producer, and screenwriter is selling his Marina del Rey home in California.

Sitting on the area's Grand Canal, it's an attractive piece of property for those seeking a luxurious SoCal lifestyle. 

Listed at almost $10 million, we're a little hesitant to negotiate the price with the martial arts master ...

Built in 2011, the home is a quick stroll away from the Marina, delicious restaurants, and Pacific beach.



It's okay to take the elevator after legs day in the home gym — we assume JCVD does.



A wraparound couch alludes to many nights spent entertaining friends and family.



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Men are facing a huge double standard in the fashion industry

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Paris Fashion Week

There are constant cries on the Internet for the fashion industry to embrace plus size female models.

From petitions for Victoria's Secret to offer larger sizes to outright pleas for plus size models to walk to appear in ads, there is a clear demand for retailers to appeal to plus size women.

But there is no demand for larger male models, reports Yahoo Style. In fact, the style website notes that big models were noticably absent from New York men's fashion week.

The lack of larger men on the runway highlights an even stranger component to the double standard.

The media has welcomed the the "dad bod" with glee. Plenty of male celebrities show off flabby stomachs. And television has a chronic history of featuring chubby men alongside model-thin women as their love interests.

Dad Bod

But the fashion industry has yet to open its arms to larger men.

This is likely because men (unlike women) haven't called out requesting to see larger men, Yahoo Style notes.

"As an agency, we don’t dictate demand, we respond to it," DNA model manager Gene Kogan told Yahoo Style. "Demand has to originate from designers, brands, or retailers. If there was a strong demand for plus-size male models, believe me, we would be scouting for them."

Further, fashion is targeted towards women, Yahoo notes. "Fashion has tended in the recent past to mean more to women than to men, and this is perhaps why more women now expect to see themselves reflected in all their different shapes in it," Mark Simpson, the man behind the defining word 'metrosexual,' told Yahoo Style.  "Until now men haven’t had so much invested, or they didn’t mind the idealization of fashion. They tend not to see it as something driving them to eating disorders. In fact, they may not pay attention to it at all."

Tess Holliday Monif C Campaign

Meanwhile, people remain very vocal when it comes to how women are represented in fashion. People were outraged when Calvin Klein called model Myla Dalbesio "plus size," when she was only around a size 10.

This vocal behavior has helped women.

Female plus size models have gained more traction in the recent years. H&M used plus-size model Jennie Runk in a major campaign in 2013. Ashley Graham was featured this year in Sports Illustrated (albeit in an ad). Size-22 Tess Holliday has collaborated with major cosmetic company, Benefit, and even appeared on the cover of People. 

But until men start speaking out about the lack of diversity on the runway, it's unlikely that designers and agencies will respond.

SEE ALSO: Science proves that the trendy 'dad bod' that girls are going crazy over is for real

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The 15 most amazing women in science today

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nina tandon in lab

In the science and technology industries, women are often massively underrepresented

But that doesn't mean they aren't making some of the most important and inspiring contributions out there. 

We've highlighted 15 female scientists who are doing amazing things, pulled from our recent list of groundbreaking scientists who are changing the way we see the world

From a woman who developed a revolutionary blood test that will transform the way we measure our health to an astrophysicist who's trying to find another Earth, here are the most amazing women in science today.

SEE ALSO: 50 groundbreaking scientists who are changing the way we see the world

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Cori Bargmann is uncovering the causes of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and autism.

Through her studies on roundworms, Cori Bargmann is uncovering how neurons and genes affect behavior. Because many of the gene mechanisms in roundworms mimic those of mammals, Bargmann is able to manipulate certain genes and observe how that affects changes in behavior.

For example, in one study she manipulated a gene that caused the male worms to bumble around while trying to mate, ultimately failing. Bargmann developed the Brain Research Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative, which researches the root causes of conditions such as Alzheimer's and autism by looking at connections between brain function and behavior.

Bargmann is the Torsten N. Wiesel Professor in the Lulu and Anthony Wang Laboratory of Neural Circuits and Behavior at Rockefeller University.



Cynthia Kenyon is developing ways to help us live longer and healthier lives.

Cynthia Kenyon joined Google's Calico venture last year, where she helps a team of scientists develop methods to slow aging and prevent age-related diseases.

The goal of Calico is to extend human lives by up to 100 years. Kenyon gained prominence in the science community in 1993 for her discovery that altering a single gene in roundworms could double their life span. Since then, Kenyon has pioneered many more breakthroughs in aging research, including pinpointing which genes help us live longer and determining that a common hormone-signaling pathway controls the rate of aging in several species, humans included.

Kenyon is the vice president of aging research at Calico.



Elizabeth Holmes developed a groundbreaking blood test that will transform the future of healthcare.

Not only is Holmes on a mission to change the healthcare industry, she's the youngest self-made female billionaire in the US.

Holmes dropped out of Stanford during her sophomore year to create Theranos, a blood-testing company that uses a prick of blood to get the same test results as you’d get from an entire vial. The concept is disrupting and revolutionizing the industry by making blood tests faster, simpler, and, most important, cheaper. Theranos has raised $400 million in funding.

Holmes is the founder and CEO of Theranos.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider








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